gibson



2 Shee'og-Sheet 1.

A. P. GIBSON.

Fruit-Box.

No. 204,022. Patented Ma -21, 1878.

, wifx0 2%? N-PETERS, PnoTo-umnawnnii, wAsmNGT-zm n c that the points of support of each box should edge. Hence, the first part of the. invention UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

ANDREW P. GIBSON, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrenon TO FRANCIS T. I

WHEELER AND LUOIUS e. FISHER, .13., on SAME PLACE.

llVlPROVEM ENT IN FRUIT-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,022, dated May 21, 1878.; application filed April 2, 1878.

To all whom it may concern: I I

Be it known that I, ANDREW P. GIBSON, of Chicago, county of (look, State of Illinois, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

In the handling and'sale of small fruits, particularly berries, a want has been experienced for a box to contain the same, of such construction that, for purposes of transportation, one box can rest on another, and at the same time each box can be more than filled, or, in other words, the contents can be rounded up}! as it is called.

My invention is made with particular reference to supplying this. want. Each box is made substantially of a single sheet, with a bottom a little above the points of support, so that when such boxes are tightly packed one on another in suitable packing-cases for shipment and transportation, and one box is thus caused to rest upon .the top edge of another box, sufficientroom or space will be left between the top or mouth of the lower box and the bottom of the upper box for the desired rounding up of the-contents of the former; and in this construction it is also preferable register with the mouth of each other box in boxes of the same size, or in boxes designed to be used together. To this end I make, by preference, the points of support of each box in the vertical planes of the mouth or top herein claimed consists in a box made substantially of a single sheet, having points of support below the highest point of its lower bottom face, such points of support being, by preference, in the vertical plane of its mouth.

This feature of invention may be embodied in boxes made complete and permanently put together by the manufacturer; or it may be used more advantageously by cutting and creasing blanks of paper, paper-board, papiermach, thin wood, veneering, or other like material, so that they may be shipped flat in bundles by the manufacturer and wholesaler,

and bent to and secured in box shape by the retailer or user; and when practicable the fastening-clips may be removed after they are emptied in market, and they may be rebundled flat and shipped back, to be again put together and refilled. This feature constitutes the second part of my invention. A removable clip, suitable for the use above designated, constitutes the third part of my invention; and while all the blanks and boxes shown areintheir construction believed. to be new, the one which I now consider the best constitutes the fourth part of my invention.

In order to illustrate the present invention fully, I have shown three formsor constructions of blank and box, each differing in some respect from the others, but each embodying more or less of my invention. I willdescribe these separately.

Blank and box which I denominate No. 1 are shown in Figures 1 and 3 of Sheet 1.. This box, for present purposes, I will call No. 1. A single sheet is scored and creased, as represented in Fig. 1. The parts marked at are bent up in the line of creasing. (Indicated here and as hereinafter by dotted lines.) The parts 01 are also bent up, so as to form with the parts at a Ushape. but with angular corners, and then the entire U, at each end,

is bent up, the parts d swinging over and lapping onto the previously bent-upparts d. The part letteredm, Fig. 1, will then form thebottom of the box, and .the parts lettered m will project below the bottom, so as to form supports 8, which are intended in use to rest on the mouth of the box next below, and leave room between the two for the rounding up of its contents. Such supports, so far as they extend on two sides, constitute substantially a supportin g-rim, and may be properly designated as a broken rim. The advantages of this form of box are that it is made from a single sheet without waste, since the scores at it may be made single instead of double, as shown, of three thicknesses of material at the joints above the bottom and two thicknesses below the bottom.

A box, No. '2, made in substantially the same way, but of octagonal form, is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the blank scored and creased being represented in Fig; 4. The parts 0 are first bent up; then the parts 0 and e are brought to a U shape with the parts e after which the parts 6 are bent up, and the whole comes together, as before, but in octagonal shape, as in Figs. 5 and 6. The part m forms the bottom and the projecting parts a form the supports 8. The advantages are the same as last stated, with the additional advantage resulting from the octagonal form. All things considered, I believe this to be the best form of all.

A still further modification is shown in box No. 3, illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 of Sheet 2. Fig. 7 shows the blank scored and creased. Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the box, and Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section. The parts i are bent up. The entire right and left hand sides are bent down in the line .27, and then up in the line as, so that the narrow strip 1' shall make a double fold with the ad jacent edge of the parts 1" and i The corners '6 with the adjacent parts i of the narrow strip, are then bent forward so as to come outside the parts i, the laps are secured, and the box is complete.

The part m forms the bottom, as before, and the narrow strips 6', with the adjacent folds, form the supporting-rim s, with the functions already set forth. The notches h are cut in j that which is to be the exterior fold, in order to secure a good joint.

These various boxes will suffice for illustratin g these features of invention, though many other forms of box might be made having the same essential featuresviz.,points of support-which bottom and sides and a supporting-rim, made substantially or chiefly from a single sheet, and a box having such features I consider. as coming within my invention, whatever its shape or construction may be in other respects, without limitation as to material, and whether the projecting support in each box be a continuous rim, a rim broken at intervals, or a series of legs, two or more.

While I do not limit myself to any particular means of securing the lapped portions of boxes so made,-I prefer to use the clips 2, made of taggers tin or other light flexible sheet metal, and are cut or punched of tapering form, but with comparatively long points, so that they may be inserted through the folds or lapped parts 'of the box, and each projecting end bent down. The larger end is then prac tically a head and the smaller end a rivet or clinch. Such fastenings are so easily applied that the box blanks, scored, creased, and printed with the users card, if so desired, can be shipped flat in bundles, accompanied with the proper quantity of fastenings, and put together by the user with a considerable saving in expense of transportation. Also, after they have been emptied in market, the fastenings can be removed, the boxes brought back to a blank form, and sent back to the place of filling, to be again put together as before, if so desired.

While the chief object I have in view is a box adapted to restflby a supporting-rim, feet,

or legs projecting elow the bottom, on the mouth of a box below, it may be desirable for somepurposes in box-making to arrange the.

supports otherwise with reference to the mouth, and hence I do not limit myself .in this respect.

The sides of the box may be sloping in pyramidical or conical shape, and the supporting-flange be inside the vertical plane of the mouth. Slight variations in the lines of scoring or creasing and bending will enable such a box to be made from a single sheet.

I claim herein as my invention 1. A fruit-box having a supporting-rim, or its described equivalent, which projects below the bottom, and a bottom and sides in a single sheet, and made: chiefly or wholly therefrom, substantially as set forth.

2. A fruitbox blank creased and scored,

substantially as indicated, with reference to it giving, when bent in the lines of the creasing,

a bottom, the sides, and a supporting-rim,

either broken or continuous, substantially as I set forth.

3. The octagonal-shaped' box, hereinbefore indicated as N o. 2, made'with supporting-rim, bottom, and sides from a single sheet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW P. GIBSON.

Witnesses OHAs. F. RAPP, CHAS. F. ADAMS. 

